Is glocalization the same as globalization?
Danah Boyd writes:
When mass media began, people assumed that we would all converge upon one global culture. While the media has had an effect, complete homogenization has not occurred. And it will not. While some values spread and are adopted en-masse, cultures form within the mass culture to differentiate smaller groups of people. Style-driven subcultures are the most visible form of this, but it occurs in companies and in other social gatherings...
…As digital communities grow, they do not get homogeneous. In fact, quite the opposite. They get unwieldy as different communities within the system compete for resources where that resource is features that move the system in the direction they would like to see it go. Everyone is connected, meaning that all sorts of conflicts come crashing together. Language barriers make it hard for people to communicate. Cultural barriers make it hard for them to understand each other. Social barriers make them not care.
Consider then the difference between globalized Christianity and glocalized Christianity. What is the future of the world Christian movement do you think? What are the implications for us locally? How do you think Dana's comments on 'designing for glocalization' may have relevance for the Christian church?
